State's School Libraries To Be Linked By Computer

May 31, 1985|The Morning Call

A statewide program to automate high school library catalogs and connect them to the catalogs of other high schools and libraries in the state was announced recently by state Secretary of Education Margaret A. Smith.

"The program will eventually link school libraries to the vast storehouses of information which exist in public and academic libraries across the commonwealth, greatly enhancing both the quantity and quality of resources available to our high school students," Smith said.

The computer cataloging program, the first of its kind in the country, will take at least five years to complete. It is part of Access Pennsylvania, Gov. Thornburgh's plan for library development announced in September.

Thornburgh has asked the legislature to approve $600,000 in 1985-86 to be distributed by the Department of Education to high schools so they can begin putting their library card catalogs into a computer format.

The appropriation, the first of a series needed to complete the project, would provide funding for about 40 schools, according to State Librarian Elliot Shelkrot. Once card catalogs are computerized, Shelkrot said local and regional catalogs can be created and schools can be linked to other school, college or public libraries.

To determine which schools will begin automating their catalogs first, school districts are being asked to compete for grants by submitting proposals to the department.

Local workshops on the program are scheduled for June 19 at Liberty High School and June 20 at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. The deadline for registration is today. For additional information, call the Department of Education at (717) 787-6704